Device for detecting a hot wheel condition

ABSTRACT

A device for a detecting a hot box condition on a rail vehicle comprising a housing removably coupled to an undercarriage component of the rail vehicle, the housing being coupled magnetically; and a temperature sensor positioned within the housing.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority forEuropean Patent Application No. EP12163972 by Progress Rail Inspection &Information Systems S.r.1., filed Apr. 12, 2012, the contents of whichare expressly incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to the field of rail transportation,and more particularly, to determining a temperature of rail vehicleundercarriage components.

BACKGROUND

Safe and reliable operation of a railroad system may be dependent uponthe integrity of the rolling mechanisms of the vehicles travelling overthe rails, such as trains. Worn or damaged train wheel bearings mayincrease the rolling friction of the axle thereby increasing the powerrequired to pull the train. In addition, worn or damaged bearings maycause excessive wear to the train axle and, in the case of failure ofthe bearing, may even cause the axle to lock up, preventing rotation ofthe wheel and thus resulting in a potential fire hazard due to the heatbuild up and potential sparking caused by friction of the locked wheelscraping along the rail.

Bearing temperatures may be scanned by sensing a temperature of thewheel bearing indirectly. When the bearing temperatures are high due tooverheating of the wheel a hot wheel condition may exist. For example,infrared radiation (IR) sensors may be mounted along a rail to detect IRenergy emitted by a wheel of passing rail cars. The IR energy may beindicative of a temperature of the wheel.

Wheel temperatures may be scanned by sensing a temperature of the wheeldirectly. When the bearing temperatures are high due to overheating ofthe wheel a hot wheel condition may exist. For example, infraredradiation (IR) sensors may be mounted along a rail to detect IR energyemitted by an outer wheel bearing of passing rail cars. The IR energymay be indicative of a temperature of the wheel bearing.

However, such a system may be limited to bearing or wheel temperaturesbeing scanned only at specific points on the railway paths. For rail cartransporting potentially dangerous or dangerous cargo there may be aneed for the bearing or wheel temperatures to be scanned continuously sothat any changes in temperature may be detected within a short time.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,535,135 discloses an anti-friction roller bearingcontaining a sensing device that may radiate signals which reflectconditions within the bearing. The sensing device may detect operatingtemperature in the bearing though a sensor. The bearing may have rollersarranged in two rows within an outer race and around an inner race. Thebearing may contain a sensing device that may transmit signals, whichreflect conditions within the bearing, wirelessly to a remote receiver.The sensing device may be self-powered through electromagnetic inductionby rotation of a portion of the bearing or through vibratory motion ofthe bearing as it acts upon a piezoelectric crystal.

The disclosed sensing device is complicated and difficult tomanufacture.

US2011/0231039 discloses a device positioned on an axle shaft of a railvehicle. The device may be coupled to the shaft by a band wound aroundthe shaft so that it may rotate with the rotation with the rotationmovement of the shaft. The device may include a temperature sensor. Thetemperature sensor may be used for determining overheating of the axlebearings of the rail vehicle. In particular, the temperature may bedetermined by means of an infrared sensor. The infrared sensor may bearranged, within the device with line of sight to the wheel inner side,to detect hot boxes, since the bearing is exactly on the other side ofthe wheel.

The present disclosure is directed, at least in part, to improving orovercoming one or more aspects of the prior art system.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the present disclosure describes a device for adetecting a hot box condition on a rail vehicle comprising a housingremovably coupled to an undercarriage component of the rail vehicle, thehousing being coupled magnetically; and a temperature sensor positionedwithin the housing.

In a second aspect, the present disclosure describes a method oftemporary retrofitting of a rail vehicle for detecting a hot boxcondition comprising the step of removably coupling a housing of adevice to an undercarriage component of the rail vehicle wherein thehousing is coupled magnetically and a temperature sensor is positionedwithin the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be more fully understood from the following descriptionof various embodiments, when read together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a device of a hot box conditionon a rail vehicle undercarriage component according to the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure generally relates to a device 10 for detecting a hot boxor hot wheel condition on a rail vehicle undercarriage component.

With reference to FIG. 1, the device 10 may comprise a housing 12. Thehousing 12 may have a container-like structure. The housing 12 may havea structure to accommodate the temperature sensor and any requiredelectronics. The housing 12 may be configured so as to be positioned onan undercarriage component of a rail vehicle. The housing 12 may have asuitable shape and structure to be positioned on the undercarriagecomponent. The housing 12 may be composed of thermal insulationmaterials.

The housing 12 may be coupled to directly on the undercarriagecomponent. The housing 12 may be suitably coupled to the undercarriagecomponent. In an embodiment, the housing 12 may be removably coupled tothe undercarriage component. The housing 12 may be magnetically coupledto the undercarriage component. The housing 12 may be in magneticcontact with the undercarriage component. The magnetic coupling may besufficiently strong to hold the device 10 as a sole means of directfastening.

The housing 12 may be provided with a magnet for magnetic coupling tothe undercarriage component. The magnet may be disposed within thehousing 12. In an embodiment, the housing 12 may be provided with aplurality of magnets for magnetic coupling to the undercarriagecomponent. The plurality of magnets may be disposed within the housing12 and suitably arranged therein. The magnet or the plurality of magnetsmay be permanent magnets.

In an embodiment, a portion of the housing 12 may be magnetized formagnetic coupling to the undercarriage component. The portion of thehousing 12 in contact with undercarriage component may be magnetized.The portion of the housing 12 may be constituted by a permanent magnet.The portion of the housing 12 may incorporate a permanent magnet. Thepermanent magnet may be incorporated into a wall of the housing 12.

In an embodiment, the housing 12 may be magnetized for magnetic couplingto the undercarriage component. The housing 12 may be constituted by apermanent magnet. The housing 12 may incorporate a permanent magnet. Thepermanent magnet may be incorporated into a wall of the housing 12.

The device 10 may further comprise a temperature sensor. The temperaturesensor may be positioned within the housing. The temperature sensor maydetect heat from the target undercarriage component. The temperaturesensor may determine the temperature of the target undercarriagecomponent. The temperature sensor may detect a hot box condition or ahot wheel condition through the evaluation of the IR signals emittedfrom the target undercarriage component.

In an embodiment, the temperature sensor may be an IR sensor fordetermining the temperature of the target undercarriage component. Theinfrared sensor may analyze the infrared emissions from the targetundercarriage component to determine the temperature thereof. Theinfrared sensor may be pulsed and/or operated in intervals to consumeonly low power. Signals from the infrared sensor may be used todetermine if hot box condition or a hot wheel condition persists.

The device 10 may comprise other detectors. The device 10 may comprisean acceleration detector to detect additional forces acting on a wheelsubjected to scanning by the acceleration detector.

The temperature sensor may be positioned within the housing 12. Thetemperature sensor may be positioned within the housing 12 in a positionthat allows heat from the target undercarriage component to be detected.The temperature sensor may be positioned within the housing 12 in aposition that allows the temperature of the target undercarriagecomponent to be measured.

The rail undercarriage 20 may comprise components such as an axle 22,wheels 24, wheel bearings 26 and axle stubs 28. The device may belocated so as to obtain IR data from the one of the target rail vehicleundercarriage components.

The device 10 may be located on the undercarriage component. The device10 may be located on the target undercarriage component the temperatureof which is to be measured by the temperature sensor. The device may bepositioned on the axle 22, wheels 24, wheel bearings 26 or axle stubs28.

In an embodiment, the device 10 may be located on one undercarriagecomponent adjacent to the target undercarriage component. The device 10may be positioned on a wheel 24 and orientated to measure thetemperatures of the wheel bearing 26 or the axle 22. The device may bepositioned on the axle 22 and orientated to measure the temperature ofthe wheel 24. The device 10 may be positioned on an axle stub 28 andorientated to measure the temperatures of the wheel bearing 26 or thewheel 24.

The rail vehicle may travel on the rails 32 of a rail track 30 that maybe positioned on a rail bed, such as within a cross tie or a sleeper 34.

The device 10 may be provided with electronics which includes acontroller to control the temperature sensor. The controller may accessthe signals from the temperature sensor. The electronics may beconfigured to communicate wirelessly. The electronics may be configuredto operate within a wireless network. In an embodiment, the measurementsof the target undercarriage component may be transmitted throughwireless transmission to a receiver. In an embodiment, the receiver maybe located in the rail vehicle. In an embodiment, the receiver may be apart of an on-board system and may be located in the cabin of the trainthat includes the rail vehicle. In an embodiment, the receiver may be away station by the side of the tracks 30.

The device 10 may be powered by a battery. In an embodiment, the batterymay be a lithium battery which is able to provide a power supply over aperiod of 1 to 2 years. The temperature sensor may be powered by thebattery. The electronics and associated controller may be powered by thebattery.

In an embodiment, the device 10 may be powered through rotationalacceleration. The rotation force on the temperature sensor may generateelectrical power for the operation of the temperature sensor.

The temperature sensor may be powered through rotational acceleration.The electronics and associated controller may be powered throughrotational acceleration.

The housing 12 is supported on the undercarriage component, and thehousing 12 may support a generator configured to produce electricalpower when the undercarriage component, such as a rail vehicle wheel oraxle, turns as the rail vehicle moves. Circuitry may be supported in thehousing 12 and may receive the electrical power.

Electrical power may be generated through electromagnetic induction. Inan embodiment, the power supply may be an electromagnetic generator. Thepower source may comprise a magnetic core. In an embodiment, themagnetic core may have a plurality of stationary permanent magnets thatare arranged in succession in the circumferential direction, with theirpoles alternating. The power supply may further comprise a windingencircling the magnetic core. The magnetic core may produce a magneticflux which passes through the winding and also passes through an airgap. A ring having teeth may be positioned such that the teeth may passthrough the air gap when the ring rotates. The air gap may be betweenthe magnetic core and teeth provided on the ring.

When the ring rotates, the teeth move through the air gap between thealternating polarity poles, causing change in flux linkage with thewinding and inducing voltage across the winding. The power supply maycontain a full wave rectifier and a voltage regulator which converts thealternating current generated in the winding to direct current.

In an embodiment, the ring may be rotatably mounted in the housing 12.The ring may be weighted such that as the undercarriage componentrotates the weight would tend to remain in its lowest position in thehousing 12. The position which would be equivalent to the weightrotating within the housing 12 in the opposite direction as the rotationof the undercarriage component.

As the undercarriage component rotates, the magnetic core may rotaterelative to the ring and the teeth. The relative rotation may move theteeth though the air gap so as to induce a voltage. The voltage may beused to supply power to the device 10 and the components therein.

The device 10 may be disposed on the undercarriage component whichundergoes rotation as the rail vehicle travels along the track 30. Thedevice 10 may rotate in response to a travelling movement of the railvehicle. The temperature sensor positioned within the device 10 mayrotate in response to the travelling movement of the rail vehicle. Thetemperature sensor may move upon rotation movement of the wheels of therail vehicle. The rotation of the temperature sensor may be proportionalto the travel velocity of the rail vehicle. The temperature sensor maybe subject to a rotational force in response to the travelling movementof the rail vehicle.

The rail vehicle may be temporarily retrofitted with the device 10 fordetecting a hot box condition.

The method of temporary retrofitting a rail vehicle may compriseremovably coupling the housing 12 of the device 10 to the undercarriagecomponent of the rail vehicle. The housing 12 may be coupledmagnetically and the temperature sensor may be positioned within thehousing 12.

The skilled person would appreciate that foregoing embodiments may bemodified or combined to obtain the device 10 of the present disclosure.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

This disclosure describes a device 10 which can be positioned with easeon the rail vehicle undercarriage component. The device 10 may betemporarily coupled to the rail vehicle undercarriage component. Such atemporary coupling may avoid the need for the device 10 to bemanufactured as a part of the rail vehicle undercarriage component.Thus, the device 10 may be assembled without the need for retrofittingthe under carriage component. The device 10 may be decoupled from theundercarriage component after use without undue effort. The device 10may be used as a consumable item.

The device 10 may be in direct contact with the rail vehicleundercarriage component and thereby may be able to measure thetemperature of the component directly.

Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalentsof the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permittedby applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-describedelements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by thedisclosure unless otherwise indicated herein.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed byreferences signs, the reference signs have been included for the solepurpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly,neither the reference signs nor their absence have any limiting effecton the technical features as described above or on the scope of anyclaim elements.

One skilled in the art will realize the disclosure may be embodied inother specific forms without departing from the disclosure or essentialcharacteristics thereof.

The foregoing embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respectsillustrative rather than limiting of the disclosure described herein.Scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims, ratherthan the foregoing description, and all changes that come within themeaning and range of equivalence of the claims are therefore intended tobe embraced therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for detecting a hot box condition on arail vehicle, comprising: a housing removably coupled to anundercarriage component of the rail vehicle, the housing being coupledmagnetically; and a temperature sensor positioned within the housing. 2.A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the undercarriage component isa rotating component.
 3. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein theundercarriage component is a wheel.
 4. A device as set forth in claim 2,wherein the undercarriage component is an axle.
 5. A device as set forthin claim 2, wherein the temperature sensor is powered through rotationalacceleration force.
 6. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein thetemperature sensor is powered through a battery.
 7. A method forretrofitting a rail vehicle for detecting a hot box condition,comprising the step of: removably coupling a housing of a hot boxcondition detector to an undercarriage component of the rail vehicle,wherein the housing is coupled magnetically and a temperature sensor ispositioned within the housing.
 8. A method as set forth in claim 7,wherein the temperature sensor is powered through rotationalacceleration.